Measuring success
Whatever action we plan – we want to know if it has the potential to deliver what we need and, once implemented, if we achieved what we set out to do.
Measuring success
Whatever action we plan – we want to know if it has the potential to deliver what we need and, once implemented, if we achieved what we set out to do.
Planning
Measuring success starts way before the first activities are carried out. In many cases, we have various options to act available. To help us choose which one to implement, we evaluate these for their potential to achieve our objectives and select the one that seems to fit best.
This is true for large political decisions as well as everyday choices we make. While for everyday choices we often do this unconsciously, it is a very explicit process in political decision-making. Nevertheless, they both share some common complexities and pitfalls.
Monitoring
Measuring success is not only about evaluating whether you achieved your objectives. More importantly, it is a tool to fine-tune actions during implementation so they can be as effective as possible and to check if efforts are yet sufficient.
There are many reasons why measures are not performing as intended. Circumstances change, barriers prevent implementation, or the target group doesn’t react as expected. Monitoring should detect such developments at an early stage and allow adjustments that improve the performance of measures.
Evaluation
Keeping a tab on CO2 concentrations could be enough to see if we are successful. But while this is the ultimate goal, we may need to take a closer look at individual measures and their contribution. This allows to learn what works and what doesn’t and provides valuable lessons for more effective future action.
There are many useful tools to support planning, monitoring and evaluation for mitigation and adaptation actions, often sector specific. Here just a few examples.
Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning System
LEAP, the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning System, is a widely-used software tool for energy policy analysis and climate change mitigation assessment.
Carbon Disclosure Project
CDP is a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts.
WRI GHG Protocol
The WRI GHG Protocol has developed a wide range of standards that support companies, organisations, cities and national governments in the quantification of GHG emissions.
A number of initiatives are evaluating the effects of implemented policies at the country and global level.
UNEP Emissions Gap Reports
UNEP’s Emissions Gap Reports compare where greenhouse gas emissions are heading against where they need to be, and highlight the best ways to close the gap.
Climate Action Tracker
CAT quantifies and evaluates climate change mitigation commitments, and assesses, whether countries are on track to meeting those.